Dawn Hutmacher is fundraising
Help Us Build Our Kennels - PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans
Patriot Assistance Dogs is a non-profit organization with a heartwarming mission: to provide highly trained service dogs at no cost to U.S. military veterans struggling with disabilities, particularly PTSD and other mental health challenges. Patriot Assistance Dogs currently serves veterans in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Here's what makes them special:
- Focus on Mental Health: While many organizations train service dogs for physical disabilities, Patriot Assistance Dogs specializes in psychiatric service dogs trained to help veterans cope with the invisible wounds of war. These dogs are taught specific tasks to mitigate PTSD symptoms, like interrupting anxiety attacks, providing a calming presence during flashbacks, or reminding veterans to take medication.
- Rescued Dogs, Second Chances: They primarily use rescued dogs from shelters, giving these deserving animals a second chance at life while they, in turn, provide life-changing support to veterans.
- Comprehensive Training: The dogs undergo extensive training, including obedience, public access, and specialized tasks to assist with their veteran's specific needs. This ensures the dogs are well-prepared to handle a variety of situations and provide reliable support.
- Veteran-Centric Approach: Patriot Assistance Dogs prioritizes the veteran's needs throughout the entire process. They carefully match veterans with dogs based on their personalities and lifestyles and provide ongoing support to ensure a successful partnership.
- Community Support: Based in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, they rely heavily on community support through volunteers, donations, and fundraising events.
Since their founding in 2011, Patriot Assistance Dogs has:
- Certified over 300 veteran-dog teams.
- Helped veterans regain independence and improve their quality of life.
- Raised awareness about the challenges veterans face and the important role service dogs can play in their recovery.
If you're interested in learning more or supporting their mission, you can visit their website PATRIOT ASSISTANCE DOGS or check out their profiles on GiveMN and GuideStar. You can also find them on Facebook for updates and stories about their work.
We are fundraising to support Patriot Assistance Dogs in their mission to provide highly trained service dogs to U.S. military veterans at no cost.
FUNDS RAISED from this fundraiser will go towards Patriot Assistance Dogs Capital Campaign fund (building payoff and kennel construction).
Due to the incredible demand for our services, we have no choice but to expand so that all Veterans coming to us for help can have a service dog placed with them. We recently purchased a 7 acre property that houses our administration offices, as well as a six-bedroom facility for Veterans to stay at for no charge while they are paired with their new service dog.
We have raised over half of the purchase price in just two years, and are looking to break ground on our kennels in the spring. The kennels will be able to host 27 dogs, 3 trainer's offices, a small in-home task simulation apartment, an intake area, a training floor and a grooming room, as well as space for the dogs to play and exercise outside.
These kennels will help reduce the wait times that our Veterans are forced to endure to get help, but we we need your help to do it!
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guidestar.org/profile/45-2486498